The moment she leaves, David responds. “Tell you what – as a show of good faith, I’ll give you the original copy of the video I took that day. Would that help?” David looks at me with such a smug look on his face, I wish I could reach over the table and punch him.
“You think you’re helping me? You’re a fucking pig, do you know that?” I take a sip of my drink and consider his offer before I respond.
I look across the bar and see Adam staring at me in the mirror. His face is twisted in a hard line and I can see how angry he’s becoming. But he’s holding it together relatively well. He holds up his hand and rubs his thumb across his fingers, the common gesture for money.
“You only have the one copy?”
“I do.”
“You’ll turn it over to me?”
“Yup.”
“How much?”
“That is the sticky wicket, isn’t it?” David gazes down at my left hand and his eyes land firmly on my engagement ring. “That’s a beautiful ring, Juliette. Lots of diamonds – pretty big ones too. I’m guessing that ring is worth at least 20K. I think that number sounds about right.”
Without hesitation, I answer him. “No,” I tell him sternly. I don’t even have to think about it. This is non-negotiable. “You’re full of shit. Five thousand for a fully loaded computer, another thousand for the software and maybe two thousand for the scanner. I’ll throw in two more thousand for incidentals, and we’re talking ten thousand dollars. Take it or leave it.”
David considers my offer. “Deal. I want the cash in my hand before you leave town.” He takes a big gulp of his beer but doesn’t take his eyes off me. His eyes rake me up and down, making me feel like he’s eye-fucking me. It makes my skin crawl. “I have to say, you lost weight in all the right places. Long, lean legs and trim waist, but you somehow managed to keep your full rack. Can I interest you in, perhaps, sealing the deal back at my place? You know, just for old time’s sake?”
“Drop dead.” I get up from the table, grab my drink, and pound it down, finishing it to the very last drop and slamming the glass firmly back onto the table. “I’m outta here. You can pick up the check – after all, it’s your fucking party.”
As I’m walking away, I hear David holler, “Call me,” in a sickeningly sweet voice dripping with mockery.
I walk directly to the car as Adam catches up to me halfway down the block. Adam unlocks the car and opens the door for me. Neither of us has spoken a word. He gets into the driver’s seat and starts the car.
“David is a fucking scumbag,” Adam pronounces.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I answer.
“Can I ask you something?” Adam asks as he pulls onto the road.
“Shoot.”
“You came up with that counteroffer pretty quickly. Did you have a plan that I didn’t know about?”
I open up my purse and take out a small, black velvet box with blue satin inscribed with the gold lettering. Tiffany & Co.. I stare at the beautiful diamond teardrop earrings Evan bought for me in Atlantic City. The same ones I wore at our grand opening and again at the Snowflake Ball. I place them on the dashboard so that Adam can see them. “These were a gift. They’re worth exactly ten thousand dollars. I’m going to sell them.”
Adam glances over. “Jette, no. You can’t.”
“I have no choice. If I try to take that kind of money out of our joint account, he’ll notice. If I do it as a cash advance, he’ll get the bill. This is the only way to keep Evan out of it.” I take a deep breath to try to calm my nerves. “You know I’m right.”
“Fine. Let’s get this over with. If I think about it for too long, I’m going to turn the car around and kick that little prick’s ass from here to East Bumblefuk.” I can see the veins in Adam’s neck pulsing.
Two hours later, I’m sitting alone at the bar in our hotel with an SD card in my hand. The entire hand-off took less than five minutes.
Adam comes over to me the moment David is out the door. “That’s it? He’s gone? Just like that?”
I nod. “Just like that.”
“Jette, I hate to be a wet blanket, but don’t you think that was a little too easy?”
“There was nothing easy about it, Adam. Do you think I wanted to sell those earrings? Do you know how much they meant to me? If Evan ever finds out what we’ve done today, he may never forgive us, and I have to live with that. I hate keeping secrets from him.” I can easily explain away the missing earrings. There’s no paper trail, and I have to believe that I’m now holding the only recording of our little tryst. I’ve done the right thing, the only thing I could have done. I’m certain of it. So why do I feel like I’ve just made a deal with the devil?
Adam has passes that will get us anywhere in the stadium he wants to go. When it was clear that the Sentinels were going to put another tally in their win column, we left our seats and found our way through the catacombs beneath the stadium. Adam knows his way around well enough that we easily find the team field entrance tunnel.
Our timing is perfect. No sooner do we find the field tunnel than the game officially ends and the players from both teams come jogging past us. Of course, Adam knows most of the Sentinels by name, and even a few of the Broncos too. I watch as Shaun, Carlo, and even Xander go rushing by.
“Where’s Evan? Did we miss him?” I ask Adam.
He peeks out the tunnel and onto the field. “Nah, he’s still giving a few interviews on the field. He’ll be by in a minute.”
I catch my first glimpse of Evan as he enters the tunnel. He has no idea we’re here. As he gets closer, I can see him more clearly. He looks delicious, all sweaty, filthy-dirty, and wearing a grin a mile wide.
Damn. He looks hot in that jersey.
I step out of the shadows just as he nears us and his face lights up. He sweeps me into his arms and twirls me around. “Did you see it? We kicked their ass! And it’s all because of you. You’re my lucky charm.” I don’t want to let him go. His deep blue eyes sparkle and he even smells amazing – the most intoxicating combination of sweat, testosterone, and the musky smell that is Evan.
“You’re the one who’s magically delicious,” I tease.
He takes me by the hand, weaving our fingers together as the three of us make our way down the tunnel toward the locker room. “Adam, take my girl to the press room. I have to give a post-game interview. Gimme ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Then we can paint the town red – or any color she wants.”
I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home. All my fondest memories are now shattered, replaced by ugliness, greed, and depravity.
“Evan, I want to go home. I want to climb into bed and fall asleep with you wrapped around me. Can we please just go home?”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Chapter Fourteen
Not For Love Nor Money
I wake before the alarm, toasty warm, with a gloriously naked Evan McGuire wrapped around me. My head rests on his chest, our legs are tangled together, and my arm is draped across his stomach.
Soft morning light filters through the window, and I can tell by the gentle shadows that the sun is just beginning to rise. I lift my head and watch him sleep. He looks so relaxed and contented lying there. I don’t want to wake him.
I hate the physical reminders of what he does for a living. Bruises are visible on his shoulders, back, and chest, indicators of the brutal punishment he endured yesterday. His body will ache and it will be slow and difficult for him to move, at least for a few hours. How much abuse can one body take, even one as nearly flawless as this one?
He lies there perfectly still as I let my eyes feast upon him. Unable to resist, I raise my hand and run it across his chest, enjoying the soft yet firm contours of his body. I press tiny kisses along his arm and shoulder, which I know will be sore from yesterday. I run my fingers down his chest and abdomen until I reach the small smattering of hair below his navel that disappears beneath the satin sheet that barely covers us
.
He’s mine.
I smile as I think about it. One day soon, we’ll say our vows in front of our friends and family, making this creature beside me my lawfully wedded husband. I place another kiss on his chest as his eyes slowly open.
“Good morning.” I grin apologetically at him. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
He pulls me a little more tightly against his firm chest and kisses my forehead. “How long have you been awake?”
“Just a few minutes,” I confess. “How do you feel?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” In one fluid motion, he rolls me over and pins me beneath him. His hands are on mine, holding me firmly in place as his nose tickles mine and his morning glory digs into me.
“It’s hard to say.” I giggle, grinding my pelvis against him.
“Oh, really?” He looks down at me with a big grin. “You’re in a playful mood today.”
“I like playing games with you,” I admit, staring up into his endless blue eyes.
“Want to play the hokey pokey?” he murmurs against my throat. “You put your whole self in,” rolling his hips against me. “You put your whole self out,” trailing kisses down to my breast. “You put your whole self in,” I moan against him. “And you shake it all about.”
I drag my nails down his back until I reach his perfectly formed ass, and press him tightly against me as my knees fall open just enough for him to slip effortlessly inside me.
“That’s what it’s all about,” he hisses in my ear.
I stand at the bathroom sink wearing nothing but a sports bra and a pair of yoga pants, trying desperately to tame my tangled hair into a ponytail, finally satisfied that I’ve done the best I’m going to without a shower. So much has happened over the last two days, I need to clear my mind.
Evan wanders into the bathroom, naked as a jaybird, and begins brushing his teeth. He stares at my reflection in the mirror and rinses. “Are we running this morning, baby?”
We? I’ve gotten quite used to running alone. “I thought I’d go for quick run this morning. It’s your day off. Why don’t you go relax? I’ll be back in about an hour.” I was hoping for a longer run, but maybe it’s best if I keep closer to home today.
Rather than wait for a response, I leave Evan in the bathroom, hoping he’ll get the message that I need this alone-time. I return to the bedroom to grab my zip jacket and running shoes.
I hear his voice travelling from the bathroom. “Don’t leave without me!”
Damn. I might as well make the best of it. Besides, watching him flex his muscles as he jogs is a sight to behold. I was looking forward to some quiet me-time, but I’m actually starting to like the idea of having Evan join me. Not a bad way to start off the new week.
Evan grabs a pair of track pants and slides them on, returning his attention to me. His eyes run up and down my body, inspecting me for changes. I’ve been running so much, I’m starting to lose more weight. Clothes that once clung to me now hang loosely. “You’ve been running a lot, haven’t you?”
“I don’t know, maybe I have. I do know one thing, though.”
“Yeah? What’s that, Running Girl?”
“I can kick your ass,” I tease. “Come on, let’s see if you can keep up with a little girl.” I return to the bathroom to brush my teeth before we head out.
Evan is already out on the deck stretching when I find him again. Watching him bend and flex takes my breath away. He hasn’t showered, and he still has bed head hair sticking out in every direction. His jogging pants accentuate his trim hips, and his T-shirt stretches tightly across his biceps. This man is devastatingly handsome. I slap him on the ass and hustle down the steps, eager to start our run and get a little bit of a head start.
I lead Evan along my southern route, staying close to the surf, running on the cold, wet sand, which has hardened like cement in the December frost.
Evan and I haven’t run together since football season started so many months ago. The last few times we ran together, I struggled to keep up with him. Evan is in amazing physical shape. I glance out of the corner of my eye and watch in awe and appreciation how gracefully he controls his body. He matches his stride to meet mine step for step and his arms swing only slightly, propelling his body into forward motion. His face is relaxed and his hair bounces and sways with each step.
“You have to stop doing that,” Evan warns.
Am I running wrong? Is that even possible? “Doing what?”
“Looking at me like that. Keep that up, and I’m going to ravish you right here and right now.”
I smile at the thought, but return my attention to the beach, making sure to keep my feet treading along the cold and hardened sand. “So how, exactly, would that work? Would we do it right here near the crashing waves, or would we move closer to the sand dunes, maybe?”
I see a wide grin growing on his face. “I don’t know, maybe under that lifeguard stand over there. Want to try a little outdoor sex in a public place?”
“Oh, sorry, baby, but I’ve already done that.” Evan stops running and stares at me, shocked. I call back to him over my shoulder as I keep moving forward, “Remember, I grew up here on the beach. We used to make out under the lifeguard stand all the time. It was a rite of passage.”
Evan takes a few long strides to catch up to me. “If you think making out with a teenage boy and getting ravished by a man are the same thing, then I’m definitely doing something wrong.”
“There’s only one way to find out.” I take a quick look around and make sure there’s no one in sight. I run out ahead just a few steps, moving away from the water and toward the lifeguard stand lying on its side, abandoned for the winter. I sit down in the sand, leaning back against the wooden railings, looking out at the breaking waves.
Evan follows and sits beside me, opening his arm for me to curl up in. The sand is cold and hard, but I find warmth in his embrace. He places a hand under my chin, raising it just enough that we’re staring into each other’s eyes. I cup his cheek in my hand, thankful for the stubble that tickles my flesh. His warm breath washes across my skin as he brushes my lips with his in a kiss that makes my toes curl.
When his tongue swirls with mine, I move my fingers up to his mop of hair, dragging my nails across his scalp, and tug playfully on his hair. Evan’s hand travels to my ass, gently squeezing and rubbing.
I climb onto his lap without breaking our bond. I press my breasts against his chest, thrusting my hips and grinding against him. I take his tongue into my mouth and gently suck, eventually releasing him so I can nibble on his lower lip.
He places his hands on my hips and pulls me back, looking deep into my eyes. He brushes his nose against mine, kisses me once more, lifts me off him, and places my ass back in the sand. I’m left wanting more, bereft and deprived of his tender touch. “Why did you stop?”
“I wanted to remind you what it’s like to make out with a man. I’ll leave the ravishing part for when we get home.”
Evan stands and offers his hand to help me up. Without missing a beat, I begin to retrace our steps back toward our beach house in a full-out run. I call back to Evan, who’s struggling to catch up with me. “Come on, stud. Try to keep up.”
After our communal shower, we sit together at the breakfast table, enjoying a simple meal of fresh fruit and toast. “So, Juliette, what’s the plan for today?”
“You know exactly what I want to do today. I’ve told you a thousand times. I want to drive out to a farm and cut down a Christmas tree. A real tree.” I pick at my food while I wait for his response.
“And how will we get this tree home? I’m not getting sap all over my Porsche and I don’t want to get scratches all over your new car, either.”
“Adam already promised we could use his SUV for the day.”
“If it’s just the two of us, that means you’ll have to be my bodyguard if things get out of control,” he grins wickedly at me. “I’ll be depending on you, Running Girl.”
“Maybe I should bring the can of Pepper Spray that Auggie used to make me bring on all my dates,” I tell him.
“Did he make you bring it on our first date?” he demands to know.
“Absolutely,” I tell him. “And I would have used it too, if you weren’t so damn adorable.”
Within an hour, we exchange cars with Adam and head west, away from the shore. We arrive at a tree farm just outside Cherry Hill. The parking lot is nearly full. It seems like lots of others had the same idea today. “Juliette, there are a lot of people here. Are you sure this is what you want? I really don’t want to make a scene.”
“No one will even know you’re here.” I hand him his woolen cap, a pair of sunglasses, and without much fuss, he’s completely unrecognizable. We walk around the tree farm like a normal young couple. No one is following us, taking pictures, or even asking for autographs.
As we wander around the farm, an older gentleman approaches. Perhaps it was wishful thinking to hope we could go out in public without being recognized. Evan is far too generous, and sometimes the older men will talk his ear off. They like to reminisce about past games, former quarterbacks, and better times. Evan sees him coming too, and he braces for impact.
“So, how can I help you two kids? Do you know what kind of tree you’re looking for today? We have Douglas fir, balsam, spruce, and Scotch pine.” This man has no idea who Evan is – to him, we’re just another paying customer. He shows us around the farm, pointing out all the tree varieties and lecturing us about the pros and cons of each.
With the help of our new friend, we cut down the perfect ten-foot tall balsam fir and get it tied securely to the roof of Adam’s car. As Evan pays the helpful gray-haired man, he gets a lecture about the best type of tree stand and some useful tips about keeping the tree alive for as long as possible.
Running Away With You (Running #3) Page 19